Senator Thune part of Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Unnecessary EPA Regulation of Ammunition and Fishing Tackle

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Thune, Klobuchar Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Unnecessary EPA Regulation of Ammunition and Fishing Tackle

-Bill excludes ammunition and fishing tackle from TOSCA, leaving regulation to the states-

 WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today introduced legislation to prevent ammunition and fishing tackle from unnecessary Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation. The Hunting, Fishing, and Recreational Shooting Protection Act excludes ammunition and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act, leaving regulation up to state fish and game agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which currently regulate ammo and tackle.

“I was pleased to help secure a provision in the fiscal year (FY) 2015 appropriations bill to ban the EPA from regulating lead in ammo and tackle for the remainder of FY 2015, but that’s just a start,” said Thune. “To prevent the EPA from moving forward in the future with extreme and unnecessary regulations on certain ammunition and fishing tackle, Congress must pass legislation preventing a future federal regulation that could price sportsmen and women out of the market. I am committed to ensuring that generations of South Dakotans are not unnecessarily restricted from hunting, fishing, and enjoying the great outdoors, and will continue to push for consideration of this legislation by the full Senate.”

“Hunting and fishing are not only important to Minnesota’s economy – they’re also a cherished part of our state’s heritage and identity,” Klobuchar said. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will prevent unnecessary regulation and ensure that our state’s sportsmen can enjoy the great outdoors as they’ve done for generations.”

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, 95 percent of ammo currently manufactured is made with lead. Steel shot is also significantly more expensive than lead shot, and can cost as much as 25 percent more per case.

Currently, regulation of lead in hunting ammunition and fishing tackle is left to the states. In addition, the federal government also already regulates the use of lead ammo for hunting on federal property, including Fish and Wildlife Service and Army Corps of Engineers land.

The legislation is supported by The National Shooting Sports Foundation, Safari Club, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and other hunting and fishing groups.

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Press Release: Rounds to Chair EPW Subcommittee on Regulatory Oversight

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Rounds to Chair EPW Subcommittee on Regulatory Oversight


WASHINGTON— U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today announced he will chair the EPW Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Regulatory Oversight. Among other duties, the subcommittee is responsible for oversight of agencies, departments and programs within the EPW Committee’s jurisdiction. This includes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers.

“It’s a privilege to be chosen to lead this important subcommittee, which will provide much-needed oversight on some of the Administration’s most egregious regulations,” said Rounds. “Many of the agencies under EPW’s jurisdiction have run amuck under President Obama’s watch, threatening the agriculture industry, the energy sector and economic recovery across the nation.  I look forward to keeping a close watch on these agencies in this new role to make sure we are being responsible stewards of our natural resources.”

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman of the EPW Committee, also weighed in.

“It is an honor to have Senator Mike Rounds serve as the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight,” said Inhofe. “Governors are known for working hard and getting things done for their constituents, which is why South Dakotans chose to send their former governor to represent them in the U.S. Senate. I look forward to his contribution to the committee, especially the oversight he will conduct of EPA’s excessive regulation impacting all Americans, from our energy industry to our farmers and small businesses.  It’s been an honor getting to know him over the past few months, and I look forward to his leadership on the committee in the 114th Congress.”

Rounds also sits on the EPW Fisheries, Wildlife and Water Subcommittee.

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Release: Noem’s Human Trafficking Provisions Pass Key House Panel

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Noem’s Human Trafficking Provisions Pass Key House Panel

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem’s Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act was passed today by the House Judiciary Committee.  The legislation is expected to be considered by the full House as early as next week.

“We have to do everything we can to protect young people from this unconscionable industry.  And when prevention efforts fail, we have a responsibility to intervene and help survivors recover,” said Congresswoman Noem.  “The provisions that advanced today would give caregivers, state law enforcement officers, and others more tools to end trafficking in our communities. My hope is that we’d also be able to open the door for local shelters to receive the support they need to house survivors, because recovering victims must have a safe place to go.”

The bipartisan Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act (H.R.350) would launch a review to look into federal and state trafficking prevention activities.  This will help us identify best practices to stop human trafficking.  It also requires an inventory of existing federal anti-trafficking efforts to make sure all federal agencies and programs work together and that federal resources are being targeted where needed.  Finally, the legislation improves existing Department of Justice grants, ensuring that the grants also support shelters for survivors.

“Every day, here in the United States, thousands of victims are shuttled from place to place for the purpose of becoming sex slaves in a black market that feeds on the misery of others.  We cannot allow this to continue,” said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.  “In order to effectively attack this problem, it is first necessary to fully understand it. This legislation requires the Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, in consultation with nongovernmental organizations, to identify best practices and any possible gaps that might exist in research and data.  The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the effectiveness of the various federal grants aimed at stopping this crime.  Finally, H.R. 350 helps to provide young victims of sex trafficking a safe and secure path forward by ensuring that existing federal grants can be used for housing services. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.”

This legislation was first introduced by Rep. Noem in the 113th Congress to help give shelters, law enforcement officers, and caregivers more resources to address the human trafficking crisis.  While the legislation passed the House late last year, the Senate failed to consider the legislation.  Rep. Noem reintroduced the legislation at the beginning of this Congress with California Democrat Rep. Doris Matsui.

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Democrat party floating idea to move candidate picks to party HQ in Sioux Falls.

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I had some time this morning, and listened in to one of the pieces of legislation I’m following, Senate Bill 69 which was heard in Senate State Affairs this morning.

SB 69 is a bit of an omnibus bill regarding petition requirements, including a proposal to move the start of the petitioning process back to December 1 of the year preceding the election. I’m in favor of parts, oppose parts (specifically removing the Registered mail submission of petitions), and think the exercise is a worthwhile discussion to have.

One of the most notable things from this morning was the testimony against the bill by the ACLU lobbyist dujour, who will likely move on to other things within a year or so as most of their people do. But this moment’s ACLU Person, “Libby,” was there mainly to introduce their expert opponent and to present a bill amendment.

Their person, the writer of “Ballot Access News” spoke. And the bill amendment that the ACLU was supposed to have ready? They didn’t have it prepared.  At all.  Regardless, what the Ballot Access person spoke of was a desire by the ACLU to amend the law to allow new political parties to organize as late as June or July for inclusion on the fall ballot.

And it gets better.

The ACLU apparently wanted not just late statewide ballot access for new parties organizing as late as July, but they want to change the law to give them the ability to select local legislative candidates at convention. That was bad.

And it got worse. In later committee discussion, Democrat Senator Bernie Hunhoff suggested going even further.

The path that Senator Hunhoff started to explore in committee discussion on the bill was one that raised my eyebrows. Senator Hunhoff floated the concept of removing the concept of placeholder candidates – a tool Democrats are using in greater and greater numbers as time goes by in an attempt to fill gaps left by the lack of interest of people in running as Democrats – and instead allow the political parties to fill the empty ballot positions.

I almost had to do a double take, and internally asked, “Is he kidding?”

In effect, it would allow them to nearly forego the petition process entirely, and allow whoever is in charge of the disorganized mess at Democrat HQ in Sioux Falls to find a list of 105 people acceptably liberal, and anointed by party elders, to just be their candidates.

So, why is the Democrat party floating idea to move candidate picks to party HQ in Sioux Falls? I’m sure they’d like to pass laws that way too, but there are valid reasons we don’t. Really, how is a candidate finding 25 or 30 people to sign a petition to nominate them to run burdensome in the least? (Dems, it might typically be far fewer)

It would seem that the petitioning process is an incredibly nominal step, but an important one to ensure that the person running is there to represent the people of their district, as opposed to whoever from that zip code sent a donation into the Democratic party. It has the important step of broadening the representation the candidacy provides. Personally, (except for Lt. Gov) I’d like to see most of the constitutional level candidates have to circulate petitions too, but I might face opposition going that way as well.

So whether the suggestion comes from the ACLU, or State Democrats, any suggestion of stripping the petitioning requirement is something that South Dakotans should take a dim view of.  And if gathering a few names is too large of a burden for some, then maybe they aren’t the kind of people anyone wants in a position of power.

Release: Rounds Supports Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act

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Rounds Supports Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act

WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) supported the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which passed out of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The bill will now move to the full Senate floor for consideration.

“Our men and women in uniform make incredible sacrifices to protect our freedoms, and the Department of Veterans Affairs has a responsibility to provide proper care for them when their service is complete,” said Rounds. “This includes offering quality, accessible mental health care to returning veterans, many of whom struggle with the invisible wounds of war long after they leave the battlefield. Our bill is a positive step toward offering them necessary assistance while streamlining programs to make sure our resources are being used effectively. I was pleased to vote it out of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee today.”

Statistics show that an average of 22 veterans take their own lives every day in the United States. The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act calls for outside evaluations of all the current suicide prevention programs at the VA and the Department of Defense to make sure they are functioning as intended. Those found ineffective will come under review for improvement, consolidation or elimination.

It also would require a new website to be built that offers veterans information on how to access mental health services. Additionally, it creates a medical school loan repayment program to recruit more VA psychiatrists.

The bill was named for Clay Hunt, a Marine veteran who committed suicide in March 2011 at the age of 28. An identical bill passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support yesterday.

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Lora Hubbel thinks the DOH is going to repossess your car, and possibly eat your babies.

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Lora Hubbel is mass spamming e-mail boxes this morning, using a list that many think she appropriated from the Minnehaha County Republicans.

I may have been musing about the “eat your babies” part in the post title, but her new rant today regards House Bill 1058, which seems to be a simple bill to clean up language, and make it applicable to diseases that aren’t specifically codified into law, so they wouldn’t have to have a special session if someone brought Ebola to the state.

Predictably, Lora takes that premise and says that if you have a fungus, she thinks THE STATE could seize your vehicle and luggage:

My take on HB 1058 (see link…you may want to print it out and follow along) http://legis.sd.gov/Legislative_Session/Bills/Bill.aspx?File=HB1058P.htm&Session=2015&cookieCheck=true has been written by the Executive branch (that in and of itself is a violation of our SD Constitution…even though we have allowed this for a long time). HB 1058 takes our current state law on managing Tuberculosis (SDCL 34-22) and guts it…replacing all the intensive state laws that used to be reserved for TB (SDCL 34-22-7), a single bacterium, and now applies state control over “contagious/communicable” diseases (both terms mean the same medically) This bill’s definition of contagious/communicable is very broad and could be construed to include the common cold and thousands of viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, toxins, etc.

I find it interesting that right after President Obama makes an Executive Order to further implement ObamaCare making respiratory diseases subject to government control, isolation and quarantine…* The SD Dept of Health does even worse in this HB 1058.

Obviously if the state wanted to keep us safe from Ebola (as they are lobbying) they can just refer to Category I reportable diseases (Ebola’s generic name is Viral Hemorrhagic Fever…see http://doh.sd.gov/documents/diseases/infectious/RptDiseaseList.pdf )

What could happen if you have a contagious/communicable head cold? South Dakota wants to be able to:

1) Seize your vehicle and luggage, etc. They use the word “conveyance” which means “vehicle” when used as a noun, or “to transport” when used as a verb (Section 2).

2) Slap a Class II misdemeanor on you if you possibly have a cold and expose yourself to others in a public place (Section 4).

3) Control sick people by monitoring, quarantine and isolation (Section 7-5)

4) Demand that you be supervised to take the prescribed medical treatment and procedures for prevention (vaccines?) (Section 7-8)

5) Surrender to prescribed screening for state testing of communicable diseases (Section 8)

6) AND the personnel gathering your blood and administering treatments/vaccines do NOT need to be licensed (Section 9)

7) The STATE has authority to consult with doctors and others in diagnosing your cold or suspected cold (contagious disease)

8) The STATE wants the authority to enforce eradication of communicable diseases (they seriously wrote this!) which is a “cold” by this definition… through isolation, prevention (vaccine?) and treatment. (Section 12)

9) All confirmed cases of communicable diseases shall be under the surveillance of the department, which will diagnosis, control, and declare treatment of communicable diseases. (Section 14)

10) All category I reportable diseases (this is the first place the new bill mentions category I diseases and Ebola is already on this list under its generic name “Viral Hemorrhagic Fever” see link above) And a person suspected of having a communicable disease (possibly a cold) proclaimed by the department SHALL ACCEPT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OR IS GUILTY OF A CLASS 1 MISDEMEANOR. (Section 15)

11) You may hire your own doctor BUT ALL SUSPECTED AND CONFIRMED COMMUNICABLE DISEASE shall be under surveillance of the department (section 16)

Jeez. My head hurts from all the crazy.

Yep. Congresswoman Noem is definitely from South Dakota

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From the Hill:

When we inquired about any potential future in the broadcast booth, Noem replied, “Who knows! I get pretty animated in games like the Seahawks-Packers matchup because as a [Minnesota] Vikings fan, I have seen my fair share of tragic mistakes leading to a loss.”

Read it here.

I think the statement about the Vikings says it all.  You can easily identify South Dakotans because we all watch the Vikings blow it, again and again.

Ugh, I didn’t think it started this early..

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My High School aged daughter was telling me about her day yesterday, and brought up the fact that in her government class her teacher was spouting off about how the kids shouldn’t watch “biased” news programs and singled out Fox News in particular.

No mention of MSNBC, or the dozens of liberal news outlets who bring a lefty spin, but apparently Fox is bad.

I’m surprised I made it through 3 kids without one of them getting stuck with a teacher who tries to ram that kind of naked bias down their throats.

Did anyone tell Rick the campaign ended a few months back?

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In the last day or so, the Mitchell Newspaper had a column from losing Senate Candidate Rick Weiland, that seems a little too much like he’s still in campaign mode:

In fact, I cannot think of one reason to build this pipeline other than to placate big oil and its big money. I can think of lots of reasons not to.

Did you know, TransCanada, a foreign oil corporation, can take South Dakota farm and ranch land without landowner permission through eminent domain?

Did you know that Keystone One, built in 2010, leaks on a regular basis — some big leaks, too — and that Keystone XL is going to be built over the Ogallala Aquifer, a vital source of water for our region?

And did you know, that the energy it takes to extract the tar sand oil, liquefying it for transport, refining and shipping it overseas for sale, will dump 100 million tons of additional carbon into the atmosphere?

When the threat of climate change has 99 percent of the scientists in the world seriously worried about the future of the planet and the human race, this greed is inexcusable and needs to be exposed and rejected. We should be transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, not doubling down on Keystone.

Read it here.

“Big Oil, Big Lie.”  Did anyone point out to Rick that no one bought this same tired rhetoric in the campaign, so he suffered a “Big Loss?”  South Dakotans didn’t buy it then, and they still aren’t interested in smoking what he’s offering.